Steve Folland finds out what it’s like being freelance for US born and now Manchester based blogger Kimberly Duran. How she balanced a successful blog with a full time job until the time was right to start officially being freelance. With great advice on blogging, diversifying your income, selling yourself and making and keeping an eye on your goals.

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

When approaching people, tell them what they will get out of the relationship - that’s what they care about

If you’re blogging, be authentic, let a bit of your real self out there

How Kimberly created a professional 'Media Kit' to help explain explain herself and her proposition to companies

If you’re a blogger: beware the temptation of sponsored blogs, don't jeopardise your relationship with your readers

If you're a blogger: reach out to the blogging community to help grow your audience

Diversify your income

Can you create a 'product'? Something of value to your audience that also boosts your portfolio, reputation and puts you in front of new people

Make Goals for yourself and check what you’re taking on against them daily - does each job take you closer to them?

More from Kimberly

Kimberly on Twitter

Kimberly on Pinterest

Her blog: Swoon Worthy

Her Little Black Book

Useful Links

ao.com Blog

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Steve Folland chats to Art Director Sam Clark-Hall. Due to the nature of the TV/film industry, Sam's never had a 'proper job', so with over 15 years of freelancing under her belt has plenty to share on staying afloat financially. Plus in recent years she's been balancing ambition with starting a family and doing something you love around those that you love.

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Be sensible with your money, save a little extra for your tax and for

When Sam started a family, she and her husband based their lifestyle

Being freelance gives you great flexibility to be with your family,

If your partner is a freelancer it's a real plus: they understand

Always invest in yourself, in your skills and technology

Be nice to people!

More from Sam

Sam's site

Useful Links

SketchUp

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Steve Folland chats to Front End Web Developer Barry McGee on stepping out from the BBC and being freelance. Barry's experiment with paying for 'promoted tweets' to find himself work is a fascinating new technique to land his CVs on the desks of decision makers. But did it work?

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Hear how Barry experimented (successfully) with paying to promote

Taking on small freelance projects alongside a full time job gives

You will never think you’re experienced enough… just get started and

Job boards and agencies are fine, but you’ll get more valuable

LinkedIn has been really useful for Barry in keeping connections

More from Barry

Barry on Twitter

Barry's site

Useful Links

Stackoverflow

Twitter for Businesses

The McGuire Programme (‘Beyond Stuttering’)

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Steve Folland chats to Brand and Web Designer Liz Elcoate. How she went from pension advisor to banking on a freelance career for her future. It's not enough to be a passionate freelancer, you need to be a business person and this episode includes cracking thoughts on: payments, contracts, commanding respect and finding a niche. This conversation also touches upon mental health issues: if this resonates with you, please do check out the 'useful links' at the bottom of these Show Notes. Liz co-hosts The Freelance Web podcast - it's great, so check it out!

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

More from Liz

Liz on Twitter

Liz's site

The Freelance Web Podcast

Useful Links

Behance

How to Kill Your Business: 30 Day Payment Terms

Andy Clarke's Contract Killer

Sean Johnson's T&C's

Everything from Geek Mental Help Week including resources

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Steve Folland chats to Motion Designer & Creative Editor Stu Denbigh on taking a step back to move forward early on his career, continually improving and learning, how finding two mentors made him stronger creatively and how he deals with the dreaded cash-flow - all part of being freelance for the past 10 years.

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Sometimes you need to step back in your career to move forwards

The importance of referrals in getting new work

Even though his agreements say he’ll charge interest on fees not paid

Ask your bank for you a big overdraft to help your cash flow be less

How hard it can be fitting in to a company’s culture when you’re

The challenge of re-do loops for designers

The benefit of working with other freelancers and learning from them

The importance of finding a mentor, someone to pull you up a level

When putting together your portfolio, ditch your oldest work and show

More from Stu

Stu on LinkedIn

Stu's site

Useful Links

Video CoPilot

Film and TV Pro

Mandy's Film and TV Production Resources

Dazzle Ship

"How to be A Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul" by Adrian Shaughnessy

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Steve Folland discovers how CSS Wizardry's Harry Roberts went from secure staff job to in-demand consultant and international speaker. Harry now advises and runs workshops for the like of Google, BBC and NHS. But as a consultant, beware: if you're good at your job, you'll never get hired twice.

You'll hear that there's a lot behind a Front-end Architect, as Harry shares great tips on self marketing, the importance of your own site's language to getting hired and the difference in being a freelance consultant and how to reach that point.

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Before you leave your full time job: put time (years) into self-marketing

Before you leave your full time job: give as much of a notice period as possible

Give away a lot of your knowledge for free as 'content marketing' but don't forget to put a 'Hire Me' message across your blog and site

Speakers don't often get paid, but there are many advantages

Put something out there as soon as you can and then perfect it later, don't just wait

Consultants should work to a 'value-based' pricing model

More from Harry

Harry Roberts on Twitter

Harry Roberts' CSS Wizardry site

Harry Roberts on GitHub

Useful Links

Harry's girlfriend's shop: Whosit & Whatsit

A List Apart

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

This time, Steve finds out what it's like being freelance for presenter Gema Enseñat: how she went from secondary school teacher to TV host and announcer, then self-styled her own direction as a craft blogger. Includes: finding your specialism and not letting finances run the show. Oh, and her dog.

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Being freelance is a lifestyle choice, not just a career, remember the great flexibility in your day

Try out a new 'career' on the side first without the pressure of having to bring in the money

Don't be scared to apply for things and make connections, you've got to put yourself out there

Find a specialism that you're genuinely passionate about, don't borrow somone else's

Success is however you choose to define it

Don't feel the pressure of finances, look to other cultures and you'll see not everyone is obsessed with owning houses and pension planning

Don't rely on one or two big clients, spread out your work

No one's 'job for life' is safe, the world owes you nothing, so do what you love

More from Gema:

Gema on Twitter

Gema's Blog SequinsAndSlippers

That Girl Off The Telly

Useful links:

Book: Stephen King's 'On Writing'

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

This time, what it’s like being freelance for Musician and Producer Chris Hollis

How Chris switched from being a freelance journalist for radio stations to creating a business supplying them with jingles. His strategy of building up an 800 strong mailing list to launch his products, whilst forming personal relationships has been huge.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

You'll know when it’s time to bring in other freelancers to help with your workload when you're up at 2am and about to let someone down

Bringing in others who add to your skill base will boost the quality of what you produce overall

Make sure you get a really specific brief from a client before you start work or you can waste everybody’s time

Find your niche

Have an email marketing strategy: build a database, mail out and use the analytics to know who’s ripe for calling

Getting to know people is one of the most important things you can do as a freelancer

More on Chris

Chris' company New Noise Audio

Chris on Twitter

Useful Links

THAT Beyonce tribute video

Mail Chimp

Logic

Gadget by Korg (for iPad)

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

This time, what it’s like being freelance for Cardiff based illustrator Jessica Morgan.

How she dipped her toe, or pencil, in the freelance waters while employed full time and grew her reputation and her business to become a limited company. She may be freelance but she still has her 9-5. And her dog.

Don't forget to subscribe via iTunes and the Podcast app for iPhone etc and also via Stitcher who have an Android app, or scroll down and download from here - If you like the podcast, please do leave a review if you get a chance.

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Use freelance websites to build up your confidence, client base, reputation and portfolio

Be realistic with your first pricing, you need to build up a reputation first to deserve it

Make sure you stay in touch with clients and chase follow up work

When trying to win a client, be selective with your portfolio, you don’t have to show everything

If you’re owed money have confidence in what you’ve delivered; be persistent and forceful

Set out your payment terms at the beginning (works best with smaller clients)

Note how many hours you do on each task in each project so you can refer back to it in the future when quoting

Set office hours, you need downtime - and definitely tell clients you’re out of contact on holiday

More on Jessica

Jessica Draws site

Jessica on Twitter

Jessica on Pinterest

Jessica on Instagram

Useful Links

Freshbooks

PeoplePerHour

Design Stuff Cardiff

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

This week, what it’s like being freelance for London based photographer Tom Miles.

With over 20 years working self employed in the industry: has he finally nailed pricing? How does he drop clients whose work he doesn’t enjoy? How does he evolve his portfolio to get the work he wants rather than what he’s offered?

Here’s some of the key takeaway points:

Connections matter; stay in touch

It’s a freelance obligation to do work that you care about: if you don’t like a client, don’t work for them

Seek honest opinions on your work when building your portfolio

To get dream jobs? Look at your portfolio, look at where you want to be and bridge the gap yourself

‘Become your own mentor’: log your creative process; build on successes & avoid repeating mistakes

The key to your 'personal brand' is essentially how professional you are: act with integrity, do the job you agree to at the price and timescale they expect and that is the essense of your brand

More on Tom

Tom on Twitter

Tom's Site

Tom's Blog

Useful Links

Adobe Creative Cloud

Evernote

Google Docs

Live Drive

Phlearn

Strobist

Chase Jarvis

Tim Ferris

Ramit Sethi

TED Talks

Joel Snape

Art & Fear

Four Hour Work Week

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland